Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-08-10
TRAGEDY IN THE AIR.

as surgeon, on Senior Tornados, the
acrobat, who, despite his name. was
an Englishman, he related the follow
ing narrative;
about seven years ago-I was just
23-I first met with James Ranford
who was also IN my line, and he pro-
posed that we should both work to.
gether. consented, but we did very
badly. Ranford had wife and child,
SO it fell harder upon him. I was
forced 60 lend him what little / could
spare, for [ could not see q young
woman and little baby go without
while had it, could I?
'sWell sir, things got from bad to
worse, and my partner, being a man
OF violent temper, took to drink, and,
| am sorry to say, used to beat his
wife.
''Tne thought struck one OF us one
day that We might do better if we per-
formed under a foreign name, so we
decided to call ourselves, henceiorth,
THE Two Foscari. the Spineless
Siamese of Syria From that mo-
ment Ranford and I began to do
well; but [ ana sorry to say our good
luck only caused my partner to drink
the harder, and IN consequence to be-
have more badly to his wife.
cat last we got an engagement at a
garden near London, where there was
grand gala night every week, on
which occasion balloon assembled. [
scraped the acquaintance of the aero
naut, and one evening / went up with
him. AS we were sailing over London
he said to me:
"'You could't do the slack rope up
here, Foscari, coulu your
"'Why not ? [ said, and as / spoke,
the idea flashed upon me what q splen-
did feature IN the programmed would
be: Perilous performance of the two
Foscari Brothers, who will 60 through
their lnimitaole evolutions on a slack
wire suspended from q balloon float
ing thousands OF yards above the sur
face OF the earthp As soon as /
reached ground I vent to Ranford
who agreed TO it. The proprietor of
the gardens asked us to name our
terms. We did SO. He tried to beat
Us down, but at last consented, and
We went up and did it.
faction, and was tavOrably noticed in
the daily and weekly papers. The act
that thrilled the audience most was
the last one performed before descend
ing. Ranford, who was,,a heavier man
than |, hung from the rope with his
head downwards; then taking hold OF
both his hands with both of mine. l
swung oy their support; and then, by
way Of climax, let go with my left
hand and hung on only by my right.
/ never felt the least fear. We knew
each other grip, and it was all right.
1--WE were now earning q great deal
OF money; but I noticed that Mrs.
Ranford looked paler and more care
worn every day, and knew how ner
husband was conducting himself by
that. She told me that she wished
they were poor again, as he had been
much kinder in those times.
Zone night / was returning from the
gardens. AS | passed the door of
Ranford's lodginge, little Evelina' g
nurse ran out to me and said: Sir,
go in ran into the house. found
the parlor door open. Mrs. Ranford
wac IN her room alone; her back was
toward me, but..I could see her face in
the large mirror, which stood over the
chimney She had g. razor in
her hand and was about TO use it on
herself, when she caught the reflection
OF my face N the glass.
''Sne stopped, turned round, and
fell on the floor IN g. fit. picked up
the razor, put it in my pocket and
placed the woman on the sofa. Ran.
ford came into the room half drunk
naIf mad, and scoWled at mel like de-
mor. / expostulated, and tried to
reason with him, but he only made
me ieeriDg replies, such as, 'Oh, I'M
derstand better than you think for!
am not fool and 80 on, and | left
the house with a heavy heart. Next
day the nurse girl told me Ranford
was Jealous, and that he and his wife
had Guarreled about me We ascend
ed tha at night He neye spoke to me
nor | 20 nm.
Our next ascent took place on the
grand gala night of the United Order
Of Ancient Toxopholites. AS took
my seat beside Ranford noticed that
ne had been drinking more than usual.
We went through the performance,
no viewer, ali but the last trick. AS |
vas SN1HSlLS IfOH MS GWO uduuS Cuc
thought came into my head, if he
should not hold on.
CAS- / let go with Gay lett hand, and
swung only by my right, heard his
voice above me. Kerr ne said, are
you guilty Or not p | asked him what
ne meant. you know he answered.
Confess that you have wronged me;
speak the truth! They are your last
words. | have but to lose my grip
s'I tried TO seize his disengaged arm,
but ne held it above my reach, and
pct MS other in such q position that
could not catch at it, but swung en-
tirei7 at his mercy. leaped to reach